The Handmaids Tale has been a hit over the last year because it is a suspenseful T.V. show that is gritty and keeps viewers watching. You can currently watch this on Hulu with your membership, or you can purchase the series through Amazon Prime. After buying and downloading the apps to your devices, you will be able to watch the show anywhere. By now you may be wondering what this show is about.

Firstly, The Handmaid’s Tale takes place around 2005 or early 2000s set in New England. It is a science fiction, dystopian T.V. show that keeps you hooked from the very beginning. This show has a rich history that you should know about before continuing to watch. Once you start this series, you won’t be able to stop.

There are many reasons this T.V. show became so popular; it showed the possibilities of what could happen. It shared significant issues that we don’t like facing as a society, and it displays a gritty truth. This show is not for the faint of heart, it has some scenes you may shy away from, and that is why it has gotten such a big reaction. It’s not that this is the most glamorous show, it’s a grueling and detailed show that shows a lot of problems in society.

Was this show based on a book

Believe it or not, this was not originally a show. It was created as a book by a writer who saw problems throughout society and wrote something based on those problems. Yes, it is a work of fiction, but most books are almost always based on something that has really happened. The book was written by Margaret Atwood in 1985. She had many inspirations when writing this book, and some of those inspirations come across very clearly in the T.V. show.

What are the inspirations for the book

Many events in history gave Atwood a chance to look at and get inspiration from. Many of them may seem off to gather inspiration from, but each event spurred a change. Each and every move came with a lot of people observing them, and Atwood used those to focus her book. It worked wonderfully well.

The New Jersey Handmaids- A group of fundamentalists Christians started up in 1975 and believed they wanted to go back to the old way of living. They were a group of 75 who took their faith very seriously, they have been labeled a cult for being so extreme. However, to this day, they are a group that is still running called The People of Hope.

Decree 770- Though this was in Romania, it inspired Atwood’s story. This historical moment made it impossible for women in Romania to have any form of contraception. This happened in 1967 and made it illegal for women to have abortions. Women’s bodies were controlled by the government, and this stayed true until around the 1980s.

Women not being able to work- Many people forget that up until recently in America, women were not allowed to work. Women had a job of staying at home, raising a family, and taking care of the family. This was a significant theme throughout the book and the T.V. show.

Illegal Homosexuality- Not that long ago was gay marriage illegal. In fact, the laws giving marriage to homosexual couples in the United States was passed on June 26th, 2015. Way after the Handmaid’s Tale was written. Throughout history, homosexuality was frowned upon, and it did impact Atwood’s writing.

There are many more historical references that can be caught in the T.V. show and in the book. This series is not for casual watching, it shows a difficult living situation, and possibilities we would never admit could actually happen. It is a gritty and suspenseful show that will keep you thinking about real life. You will keep asking yourself if something is real or not; the best way to find out is to look through a history book.

How does the show and movie compare

This book is not particularly long, it is 311 pages, and if you’re a quick reader, you can probably finish it in one sitting. The first season of the show follows along very well with the book, especially specific points of view and how people speak to each other. The major difference is the show hasn’t ended yet and who knows if you will get the same ending. The book has a conclusion, it may not be the one you want, or it may not make sense to you, but there is a definite ending. The time, place, and setting are pretty accurate across the show and the book.

The beauty of T.V. shows is that they can go and make up things that will keep viewers watching. If the budget is big enough, they can take the start of the story anywhere they want, even if it doesn’t follow the book. The Handmaid’s Tale is worth it to read, especially if you have not seen the show yet. If you have seen the show, it is still a great book to read, but you may find it boring or lazy if you have already witnessed certain scenes. Actors are meant to make scenes suspenseful and fun; writers make scenes realistic. You will notice that difference.

Shows similar to The Handmaids Tale

Many movies and T.V. shows and even books chose to take place in the future, which has already passed! It is crazy to think about all of the things made to think about how the 2000’s would be. Some of it is way far off from the truth, we don’t have flying cars, and we aren’t close to a full alien war, but it is fun reading the thoughts of others and how they thought about the future.

Many shows are like The Handmaid’s Tale, where it is a group of survivors in the future, trying to make it through life. Dystopian themes have been a huge hit for some time, giving you many options to watch and read.

The 100- This is another T.V. show that involves 100 teenagers getting sent to Earth from an air shuttle they lived their whole lives on. They were sent down to see if they could survive and live on the planet. This is a show that is also based on a series of books and will make hold your attention for hours.

3%- A T.V. show coming from Brazil, now this has English dubbing or subtitles if you prefer. Most of the language is shot in Portuguese. The show is based on a world of poverty. Every year 20-year olds get a chance to go through a trial and come out rich, with a better lifestyle.

The Walking Dead- This show many people have already heard of or already binged. It is a fight for survival with zombies. They have to learn to work together as survivors. This is more science fiction than The Handmaid’s Tale but is still worth watching.

There are many shows or movies you can watch if you like the Dystopian genre. Many books have come out surrounding this theme, and it continues to be one of the most thought-provoking genres that make excellent T.V. shows. The Handmaid’s Tale is just one of many, set in a time that had already passed. But who really knows where the world will take us as a society? It may end up like these shows and books in the future.